Seeing Ralph Macchio dressed up like a Smooth Criminal and dancing with Playboy cover babe Karina Smirnoff is awkward. So I'm not exactly unhappy that our beloved Karate Kid has been given a hall pass for the rest of Dancing with the Stars.

I've never watched five minutes of this dreadful TV show but I appreciate its fondness for giving the spotlight back to some of the celebrities of my beloved '80s.

But seeing Macchio and Smirnoff together was only slightly less cringe-worthy than the date scene in Karate Kid when Daniel-San's mom had to pick up Elisabeth Shue in the beaten-up station wagon only to have it conk out in front of her already-disapproving parents. I confess I change the channel or leave the room every time that part comes on because I feel so bad for Macchio. How's that for stuck in the '80s.

About this blog

Relive the '80s music, movies and culture with Tampa Bay Times correspondent Steve Spears. A teen during the greatest decade ever, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to big hair.